Wyoming Federal Judges Sentence Four For Meth Crimes

Wyoming federal judges recently sentenced six men and one women for firearms, drugs, tax fraud and bank robbery crimes, according to a news release from the Wyoming U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Chief U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Freudenthal sentenced two men involved in a six-defendant, multistate methamphetamine conspiracy investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

She sentenced Steven Matthew King, 44, of Cheyenne, and Tommy Ambrosio Hernandez, 48, of Sacramento, Calif., for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.

Hernandez received five years, three months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of probation, and was ordered to pay $500 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.

King also was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Freudenthal sentenced King to 10 years of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of probation. She also ordered him to pay $400 in restitution and a $200 special assessment.

Earlier this month, Freudenthal sentenced three other defendants: Damien Anthony Jerome, Christopher Eugene Shaw and David Allen Labriola. The sentencing for the final defendant, Mario Thomas Escajeda, is set for Wednesday.

She also sentenced Adrian Ray Salinas, 32, of Cheyenne for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He received to two years, nine months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of probation. Freudenthal also ordered him to pay a $100 special assessment.

The BATFE investigated this case.

U.S. District Court Judge Alan Johnson sentenced Sallie E. Caraway, 51, of Jerome, Idaho, for aiding and assisting in preparation of fraudulent tax returns. Caraway received six months of imprisonment, to be followed by one year of probation and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.

The Internal Revenue Service investigated this case.

Johnson also sentenced Ivan Padilla, 30, of Los Angeles for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Johnson sentenced him to five years of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of probation and ordered him to pay a $100 special assessment.

This case was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.

U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl sentenced Terry Lee Jervah, 59, of Cheyenne for bank robbery. Jervah received two years, eight months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of probation, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Restitution will be determined at a later date.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Skavdahl also sentenced Juan Antonio Bautista, 25, of Gillette for distribution of methamphetamine and for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He received four years, six months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of probation, and was ordered to pay $250 in restitution and a $200 special assessment.